Car-step



(No Model.)

C. FREESE.

CAR STEP.

No. 4593172. Patenta& Sept. 8, 1891,

I IIIJH //////////////////IlI|H UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CLA US FREESE, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSO'RI, ASSIGNOR TO THE INTERNATIONAL CAR STEP COMPANY, OF JERSEY CITY, NE\V JERSEY.

CAR-STEP.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 459,172, dated September 8, 1891.

Application filed January 8, 1891. Serial Ne. 377,103. (No model.)

To all whom, it may concerns Be it known that I, GLAUS FREESE, a subject of the Emperor of Germany, residing at St. Louis, in the State of Missouri, have in- Vented an Im provementin Car-Steps,of which the following is a specification.

In Letters Patent No. 493,1G8, granted to me May 20, 1890, a movable step is represented, the same being supported bycurved side arms or bars which pass through stationary guides secured to the rigid steps. In this form of novable step there is a risk of the side arms becoming wedged or bound within the stationary guides, especially as the strain from the weight of the passenger rests upon the guides themselves and there is considerable leverage of such weight upon the guides.

My present invention is made with referenee to insuring the freedom of movement as the step is raised or lowered and pushedin or pulled out, and these objects are aecomplished by the peeuliarities of Construction and eombination of devices hereinafter set and claimed.

In the drawings, Figure l is a vertical seetion showing the lower portion of the stationary steps and the movable step drawn out into position for use. Fig. 2 is a sectional plan at the line .x Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 1, showing my improvement applied to car-steps supported by metal bars and rods; and Fig. ai is a sectional plan at the line y y of Fig. 3.

The car-steps are nade in any usual or desired nanner. I have represented the steps or treads G as between the side pieces F, and the movable step or platform A is securely connected at its ends to the bars B by suitable T-shaped ends with fianges, upon which the step rests, or any other connection of the required strength may be used. These side bars B may be either straight or curved. I prefer to form them curved, as represented, and they pass through guides C, and the back ends of such side bars B are permanently connected together, preferably by a cross-rod lI. The guides C are pivoted upon the stationary car-steps,preferably,by connecting the guides C by a cross-bar E and forningpivotsD upon the ends of such cross-bar, so that the crossbar and the guides can swing or oseillate upon such pivots D. This allows for the step A being raised or lowered to any desired extent, and it allows the side bars B to restupon the bottom stationa'y step G at or near the edge thereof, so that the side bars are supported at a distance from the pivots D when the step is in use; hence there is but little strain upon said pivots D; and the guides C are to be of sufficient length to allow the bars B to move parallel and at right angles, or nearly so, to the cross-bar E without the risk of becoming wedged or bound by carelessness in drawing out or closing up the movable step. here there is a riser between one step G and 'the other, it is to be mortised for the passage of the side bars B, and when the step is drawn down into position for use, as shown by full lines in Fig. l, it projects in the proper position beyond the lower stationary step, and the length of the side bars B should be such as to equally divide, or nearly so, the distance between the lower stationary step G and the ground, so as to facilitate leaving or entering the ear, especially for ladies and children and where there is not an elevated platform at the station. hen the movable step A is raised and pushed backwardly, the step and the side bars assume the positions shown by dotted lines in Fig. 1, the step A setting closely against the riser between the bottom and the second step of the stationary car-steps.

In some car-steps the horizontal treads are supported upon metal bars bent in a zigzag shape and passing beneath such steps at a short distance from the end. 'With this eharacter of car-steps the bearings will not be at the ends of the bar E, but will take the form of journals between the guides C, and they will be supported by eyes or bearings a, fastened upon the back of the Vertical portions of the iron bars 1 between the first step and the second, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4, and in other respects this improved movable earstep will remain unchanged.

I claim as my invention-- 1. The combination, with the stationarycar steps or platform, of the movable step A, the side bars B, connected therewith, and the pivoted guides C, through which the side bars B pass, substantially as set forth.

9. The combination, with the stationary car IOO &ser/'2 steps or platform, of the movable step A, the the guides through which the side bar-spass,

side bars B, the guides C, through which the the cross-shaft eonneeting the guides, and the side bars pass, the cross-shaft for eonnecting pivots for the same, substantially as set forth.

the guides together, and the pvots upon Signed by me this 19th day of September,

5 which the guides and cross-bar can swng o- A. D. 1890.

oseillate, substantially as set forth.

3. The combinatomwith the statonarycar steps or platform, of the movable step A, the XVtnesses:

side bars B therewth connected, the c'oss- SOLQN N. SAPP, Io red connectingthe back ends of the side bars, J. H. BUCHROEDER.

CLAUS FBEESE. 

